Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District

06/10/2026

Great podcast! It’s worth a listen!

As farmers continue long hours to wrap up with spring planting and crops fields begin to grow, there’s no end in sight for the work on a farm.

Tune in to this Outstanding in Their Field podcast episode where Extension Commercial Agriculture Educator, Doug Gucker, emphasizes the importance of mental health for farmers and producers beyond May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

Gucker explores resources and provides multiple contacts for individuals and families.

Additionally, he provides a crop report for east central Illinois and discusses the impact that recently passed legislation will have on farmers.

🎧 Listen to the podcast episode directly at https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/out-standing-field/weathering-stress-and-season

🔗 Read more and explore links at Weathering Stress in Farming and Your Life at: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/acres-knowledge/2026-05-18-weathering-stress-farming-and-your-life

🔗 Illinois Extension offers support for farmers experiencing economic stress at https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/illinois-extension-offers-support-farmers-experiencing-economic-stress

University of Illinois Extension DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties

06/10/2026

Tailgates n' Tallboys has a lineup you don't want to miss, and we have discounted tickets for our members! Mark your calendars and get your tickets for June 18-21 in Bloomington, IL. Contact us to receive a discount code.

06/10/2026

Great video. Definitely worth the watch!

Does anyone have a Three Sisters Garden style growing this season?

Not sure what that means? Tune in to as hosts Ken and Chris dig into the planting system that brings corn, beans, and squash together in a mutually beneficial way.

Explore the Indigenous history and cultural significance of Three Sisters, how these three crops support one another in the garden, and tips for trying it at home.

🎧 Watch the videocast version at https://youtu.be/EZmR9h-dhmQ

🎧 Listen to anywhere you get your podcasts or online at https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/good-growing/ep-252-growing-together-three-sisters-gardening-goodgrowing

🔗BONUS: Explore a little more about companion planting in the Flowers, Fruits, and Frass at https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/flowers-fruits-and-frass/2023-03-10-grow-more-productive-garden-little-imagination-and-hardworking-plant-combinations

University of Illinois Extension Calhoun/Cass/Greene/Morgan/Scott counties | University of Illinois Extension Henderson, Knox, McDonough, & Warren Co. | U of I Extension-Livingston, McLean, Woodford Counties

06/10/2026

Fireflies need more than pretty flowers ✨ A few things I’ve learned that help:
🌿 Native plants give them better shelter and a more natural habitat.
💧 Slightly moist areas are better than dry, bare soil.
🌼 Flowers like goldenrod, asters, milkweed, and wild bergamot help support the insects they feed on.
🌙 Outdoor lights can confuse them, so I like keeping garden lighting low when I can.
🚫 Skipping harsh sprays makes the garden safer for fireflies and other helpful bugs.
A garden feels extra magical when it supports the little creatures that show up after sunset.

06/10/2026

Meet plant growth where it really begins – at soil level.

Use Extension’s Color Chart for Estimating Organic Matter in Mineral Soils in Illinois chart and information to estimate the amount of organic matter in the soil to help make tomorrow’s growing decisions.

🔗Purchase copy at https://pubsplus.illinois.edu/collections/best-selling/products/color-chart-for-estimating-organic-matter-in-mineral-soils-in-illinois
🔗Explore more Extension books at https://pubsplus.illinois.edu/

06/10/2026

The single most useful thing you can add to your yard this month isn't a feeder or a fancy native plant. In a June heat wave, it's water — and almost nobody offers it the right way.

A deep birdbath is a drowning hazard for the small creatures that need a drink most: bees, butterflies, and beetles can't land on open water. The fix takes five minutes.

Take a shallow dish — a plant saucer, a pie tin — and fill it with pebbles, marbles, or flat stones, so there are dozens of dry little islands to stand on. Add water just up to the tops of the stones, never over them. Set it in the shade, near flowers if you can.

🌿 What helps
Refresh it every day or two so nothing stagnates or breeds mosquitoes. That's the whole thing.

You've just built a watering hole. In a heat wave, a bee that drinks is a bee that makes it back to the hive.

06/10/2026

If you’re tired of spending a fortune at the garden center every single spring, native perennials are the ultimate cheat code. These 9 powerhouse wildflowers come back year after year, handle local weather like absolute champs, and turn your yard into a total VIP lounge for butterflies and hummingbirds.

The best part? They require almost zero maintenance once established.

👇 Which one of these is your absolute favorite? Let me know in the comments!

06/09/2026

Then and Now. Makalie exhibits exceptional gardening prowess.
Great job Makalie! 🌲😊🌲 We also extend our gratitude to Jacy Lynn Kinsman Page, Makalie's mother, for sharing these photographs with the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District. Keep going and keep growing!

06/08/2026

Mark your calendars!!!!!

06/05/2026

I'm here until 3:30 today!